WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that the New Mexico Affordable Housing Charitable Trust in partnership with New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority will receive a $1 million competitive grant for a Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant will be used to rehabilitate or modify an estimated 80 residences across the state – helping disabled veterans to adapt their homes to better meet their daily needs. 

“We owe all of our veterans and their families a deep debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they have made to defend our country and way of life,” said Udall. “It is our duty to ensure that all veterans have the resources they have earned when they return to civilian life in New Mexico – including safe, quality housing.  This grant will improve our disabled veterans’ long-term quality of life by providing the funding needed to reduce barriers and increase mobility in their homes.”

“New Mexico’s veterans fought to protect and strengthen our home, now it’s our time to do the same for theirs,” said Heinrich. “These local organizations have been at the forefront of efforts to ensure every veteran who has served our nation has a safe and stable place to call home - this funding only propels that mission. I will continue supporting and fighting for resources that connect veterans experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter, lifesaving services, and pathways toward permanent housing.”

Funding from HUD's Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Program allows veterans to make physical modifications to their homes-such as wheelchair ramps, reconfigured bathrooms, and new bedrooms for caretakers. Rehabilitating residences and ensuring safety is essential to meeting the adaptive housing needs of veterans.